Political newcomer Thomas Batten announces bid for 61st District state House seat

TEXAS TOWNSHIP — A political newcomer from Texas Township said he intends to run for the 61st District state House seat in 2010.

Thomas Batten, a Democrat, formed a campaign committee in September but revealed his plans to run for state representative Sunday in a news release to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Thomas BattenThe seat is currently held by Rep. Larry DeShazor, R-Portage, who has said he will not seek re-election but instead wil run for the state Senate’s 20th District.

The 61st District encompasses the cities of Portage and Parchment; townships of Alamo, Oshtemo, Texas and Prairie Ronde; and part of Kalamazoo Township.

Republican Margaret O’Brien has said she’s seriously considering a run for the 61st District seat. David Yardley, also a Republican, said he may run. Both faced DeShazor in last year’s Republican primary.

Democrat Julie Rogers, who lost to DeShazor last year, has said she hasn’t made a decision whether to run again.

Batten, 30, characterized himself as a political outsider and said he would focus on what residents care about most: the economy, jobs and education.

“I understand the issues that are important to the people of Kalamazoo and the people of Michigan,” he said. “People are ready for a message of change.”

Born and raised in Portage, Batten had been away from Southwest Michigan for about 11 years and returned to the Kalamazoo area about a year ago.

Batten has a degree in electrical engineering from the former GMI Engineering & Management Institute in Flint, which is today Kettering University.

He said he worked for the Department of Defense as an analyst and project manager for about four years before pursuing a graduate degree in business administration at IESE Business School in Spain.

He opened a tutoring business in Washington D.C. in 2006 and moved the business, Prodesse Tutoring, here a year ago.

Because of his education, professional life and heart for public service Batten said, “I’m the best person to bring about this change in Lansing.”

He said reforms should include cutting legislators’ wages and reducing the job from full-time to part-time. He also said Michigan should intensify the development of alternative energy.

In his news release, Batten said the federal government should use the resources in Michigan — large numbers of highly trained engineers, technicians and manufacturing potential — to end the nation’s reliance on foreign oil.

“I came back to Michigan because Michigan is my home,” he told the Gazette. “I wanted to come back to Michigan and make a difference.”